THE INITIAL PSYCHOLOGIC REACTIONS OF THE PARENTS AT THE ONSET OF INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS IN CHILDREN AND SHORT-TIME ADAPTATION

The initial parental reactions at the onset of insulin-dependent diabe tes mellitus (IDDM) in children were described by means of a systemati zed clinical assessment for the staff and a self-report questionnaire for parents in a population-based sample. Most of the families had a p eak of emotional distress at the beginning of the initial hospitalizat ion, which faded out. The staff's assessments of the mothers' feelings were more similar to the parents' own assessments than those of the f athers' feelings. The staffs assessment of family competence regarding IDDM during the initial hospitalization, especially understanding inf ormation, was significantly associated with parental competence at a f ollow-up. An intense emotional reaction at the onset tended to persist .